A/HRC/22/59 2. Anti-Government armed groups 147. Anti-Government armed groups have taken medical supplies and equipment from Government-administered hospitals, possibly for use in field hospitals. In one incident, the National Military Hospital in Homs was destroyed when it was incorrectly identified as a military objective. Such attacks are in violation of the law of armed conflict and amount to the war crime of attacking protected objects. 3. Cultural property 148. Cultural property in the Syrian Arab Republic, such as the ancient city of Bosra, classified a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, has been used for military purposes by Government forces and subsequently attacked by anti-Government armed groups. 149. In Aleppo, the historic souk was burned in October, when the Umayyad mosque and Saint Kevork Church were also significantly damaged. Looters broke into one of the world’s best-preserved Crusader castles, Krak des Chevaliers. Artifacts in museums in Palmyra, Bosra and Homs were looted while ruins in the ancient city of Palmyra were damaged. 150. All parties to the conflict have an obligation under international humanitarian law, in particular the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, to respect cultural property and to take special care to avoid any damage to cultural property in the context of military operations. 151. In instances where buildings dedicated to religion or historic monuments have been the intended object of attack and were not military objectives, the war crime of attacking protected objects has been committed. C. Pillaging and destruction of property20 152. Appropriating property for private or personal use (pillaging) in the context of an armed conflict is a war crime.21 Deliberately destroying the property of an adversary in the absence of military necessity is illegal under international humanitarian law. Instances of both violations were recorded during the period under review. 1. Government forces and affiliated militia 153. Government forces and affiliated militia intentionally destroyed the homes and businesses of suspected anti-Government members and supporters during raids. Overt destruction included burning, explosions and inflicting damage beyond repair. Looting was a frequent precursor to destruction. 154. The above pattern was recorded in Bosra, Lihraq and Mhajjah, in Dara’a, in October 2012. The same pattern was reported in August, in Qastal Ma’af, a village in Latakia, by “popular committees”. In Dahadeel, Damascus, on 19 October, a witness saw his neighbour’s house burned by Government forces. In Kanshikam village, Idlib, a former police officer stated that soldiers “stole his valuables and destroyed everything else”. In November, Government forces and affiliated militia entered Tafas, in Dara’a, and burned a number of houses and shops. 20 21 22 See also annex XIII. Rome Statute, art. 8(2)(e)(v). GE.13-10627